Search warrant was served at Westfield financial business

A new gastropub planned near downtown Westfield is more proof that the Hamilton County city is growing by leaps and bounds, including new residential, business and entertainment options.
Dwight Adams/IndyStar

Buy Photo

Agents in FBI jackets raided the banc-serve offices, 777 E. Main St., Westfield. Agents were visible through large windows as they searched filed and took photographs.(Photo: Chris Sikich/IndyStar)Buy Photo

A spokeswoman for the FBI's Indianapolis office declined to release details of the investigation.

Earlier: FBI agents on Thursday raided the Westfield offices of a financial firm that specializes in small business loans.

Several agents wearing blue gloves and FBI jackets were visible through large windows on two floors as they searched files and took photographs inside several different rooms in the banc-serve location at 777 E. Main St.

Chris Bavender, spokeswoman for the FBI's Indianapolis office, said agents are conducting "investigative activity in the area."

Bavender declined to release details of the investigation.

The front doors to the building were locked Thursday. The parking lot was half full of cars, but empty of people except for media and curious bystanders. It's unclear how many employees were in the building.

According to its website, banc-serv offers a range of financial services including payroll management, credit analysis and assistance in applying for Small Business Administration loans.

The company was acquired by New York-based Newtek Business Services Corp. in June 2016 for $5.4 million, according to Newtek's financial filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

IndyStar has attempted to reach banc-serv and Newtek for comment.

According to a news release announcing the merger, banc-serv was founded 15 years ago and provides "outsourced solutions for the entire U.S. Small Business Administration lending process" to more than 350 lenders.